Part 2

Ownership of the house has changed several times since it was built by Vincent. At one time it was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Vincent and later by Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Thornton. In 1965 the Thorntons sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Eide who now, with their family occupy the home.

Leon Vincent, a first cousin of Webb and Beth Vincent, came to Iowa in 1867 and as a civil engineer worked in laying out the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, now part of the North Western system. He continued in this work until 1873 when he came to Fort Dodge.

In 1881 Vincent was employed as assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank until its merger with the early-day First National Bank here. He was secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Plaster Association in 1891 and was identified with gypsum operations here for many years. In 1899 he rebuilt and re-equipped the Central Gypsum mill, first of the early-day gypsum plants here. When the U. S. Gypsum Company took over the Iowa Plaster Association in 1902, Vincent remained as manager of the Blanden mill.

Vincent was active in many affairs, one of which was designing and building of the present St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which replaced an earlier edifice destroyed by fire. He also helped in laying out and beautifying of Oleson Park and in designing of 17th Street as a boulevard.

In 1911, Leon Vincent and the brothers Harry S. and Donald Vincent, sons of Webb Vincent, founded the Vincent Clay Products, Inc., which operated its big plant at Shady Oaks until recent years. Many of the plant’s machines and processes were inventions of Leon Vincent.

In failing health for many years, Leon Vincent died in 1916 at age 69. Mrs. Vincent died in 1928 at age 81. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent were grandparents of Al Loomis, photographer for most of the houses shown in the book.

THE JOHN HAIRE HOME

One of Fort Dodge’s earliest businessmen—John Haire—purchased property along north Ninth Street and built the home at 502 N. 9th St. nearly 100 years ago. Haire acquired the property along the west side of Ninth Street from Fourth to Eighth Avenues North in 1878 and platted it as Haire’s Seminary Square Addition to Fort Dodge.

Shortly after purchasing the property, Haire built the north Ninth Street residence. He and his family resided there during his lifetime; then the property passed on to his heirs. In 1941 the home was purchased by the late Verne Schram and his wife Thora.

The Schrams remodeled the home extensively and added a small apartment and garage at the rear of the house. Earlier, in 1914, Haire’s son Jack, had remodeled the house for apartments. Presently there are four apartments, three on the first floor and one on the second floor.

John Haire came to Fort Dodge from his native Ireland in 1855 and entered into the mercantile business. His store was reported to be the third one opened in the newly-founded town and was located at First Avenue South and Sixth Street.

In 1879 Haire was elected Webster County auditor and held that office until 1885. He also served as county clerk of courts and was a member of the Fort Dodge School board and its vice president for 10 years. He retired from active business life here in 1870, some years before being elected to county offices.

Haire and his wife were parents of 10 children, seven sons and three daughters. The sons were prominent in business affairs of the city for many years. They were M. J. Haire, Oleson Land Company; W. W. Haire, Sackett & Haire Drugs; Jack Haire, Fort Dodge Lumber Company; Dave Haire, who served as county clerk; Tom Haire, Haire Clothing Store; Edward and Fred who were associated with Sackett & Haire Drugs. The daughters were Anna, Josephine and Mrs. Margaret Haire Kinney.

Two grandsons of the pioneer businessman are Fort Dodge residents—George M. Haire and John Haire, sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Haire.

THE DR. EVANS HOME

The brick home located at 530 S. 12th St. was built in 1913 by Dr. Robert Evans, for many years a prominent physician and surgeon in Fort Dodge. The two-story house has three rooms on the first floor, three rooms on the second floor and an attic area with two rooms.

The house is situated in part of the Fair Oaks addition to the city that once was also the location of the Duncombe deer park and the attractive gypsum block residence of John F. Duncombe and his wife, Mary. Duncombe was a prominent early-day attorney and industrialist here.

Mrs. Duncombe sold the South Twelfth Street building lot in 1909 to Mercie T. Evans, wife of Dr. Evans. Four years later the Evans built the brick home which they occupied for many years.

The house has changed ownership a number of times and once was owned by Mr. and Mrs. John P. Barton. Mrs. Barton was a niece of Dr. and Mrs. Evans. Following the deaths of the Bartons the house was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Al Hayden who now live in Mesa, Ariz. After some remodeling of the house it was sold by Haydens in 1967 to the Don Slotten family. They, in turn, sold the property in 1972 to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Lee Pingel who presently reside there with their family.

Dr. Evans was born in Canada in 1857 and in 1888 was graduated from the Detroit College of Medicine. He began his medical practice in LaCrosse, Wis., and remained there until 1891 when he came to Fort Dodge and opened an office in the downtown area at 516½ Central Ave.

In 1908 he associated himself with Dr. C. H. Mulroney and Dr. W. W. Bowen. After 15 months Dr. Mulroney withdrew from the firm and Dr. Evans and Dr. Bowen continued together for 24 years with offices in the Snell Building. In the spring of 1932 Dr. Evans retired from active practice and in the fall of that year he died suddenly at his home.

Dr. Evans was married to Miss Mercie Thompson of LaCrosse. They had no children but raised two orphan nieces, Sarah and Kathryn Thompson. Kathryn was married to John P. Barton who was a city commissioner here some years ago. Both are now deceased.

THE DR. BOWEN HOME

Two Fort Dodge physicians and surgeons who practiced together for 24 years also lived in the same South Twelfth Street neighborhood. They were Dr. W. W. Bowen, whose home at 628 S. 12th St. is pictured above, and Dr. Robert Evans who resided at 530 S. 12th St.

Both residences are of brick construction, fronting east on Twelfth Street, and were built about the same time in 1913. Dr. Bowen purchased his lot in 1912 and erected the house a year later.

The Bowen residence is now owned and occupied by another physician and his wife—Dr. and Mrs. Walter E. Gower—who acquired the property in 1946. The house has one unique feature—lightning rods on the roof.

The home has five rooms and a half bath on the first floor, four bedrooms and bath on the second floor and two finished rooms on the third floor. There is a butler’s pantry and a second pantry on the first floor, both with their original cupboards. In the butler’s pantry is a small heating element to keep dishes warm during the winter months.

Woodwork in the house has the original finish and has never been redone. The Gowers have been told that the excellent varnish finish is the same as used on the early-day Pullman railroad cars.

Dr. Bowen was born in Marion, Ill., in 1869 and as a youth of 15 moved with his parents to Kossuth County where the family settled near Algona. He attended the Algona public schools and later Northern Illinois Normal School in Dixon, Ill. In 1895 he graduated from the University of Iowa Medical college and began the practice of medicine at Whittemore. After five years he sold his practice and went to Berlin, Germany, for a year.

Returning to the United States in 1901 he came to Fort Dodge where he was a prominent physician and surgeon until 1940 when he retired. He and Dr. Evans practiced together for 24 years.

Dr. Bowen was active in medical societies and served as president of the Iowa Medical Society. He was a charter Fellow of the American College of Surgeons which was organized in 1913.

In 1895 Dr. Bowen was married to Miss May King and they were parents of a son, Harold, and a daughter, Lydia. Dr. Bowen died in Fort Dodge in 1944 at age 75.

THE CHENEY HOME

An early-day Fort Dodge banker—John C. Cheney—built this home at 1008 3rd Ave. S. in 1896—another of the fine residences constructed in the 1890-1900 era.

Cheney was one of the organizers of the Fort Dodge National Bank (now the First National Bank) and first president when it began business in 1882. He and his wife resided in the Third Avenue South home until 1913 when it was acquired by J. R. Mulroney. The Mulroney family owned the property until 1931 when it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelley.

The three-story house is of frame construction with a large open porch on the front. On the first floor are parlor, dining room, library and kitchen with breakfast nook that earlier was a butler’s pantry. The second floor has five bedrooms and two baths; the third floor includes a large finished room and storage space.

A first floor fireplace in the home is unique in that it won second prize in the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1892-1893. It reportedly was purchased by Cheney and shipped to Fort Dodge for his new home that was constructed shortly after the exposition closed.

The fireplace is made of hand carved oak with red tile around the fire area. The ornate mantel atop the fireplace has a large mirror with lights on either side. Columns on sides of the fireplace are topped by hand carved gargoyles.

Mulroney, who once owned the property was a well-known Fort Dodger and one of the owners and officers of the Mulroney Manufacturing Company. The company produced overalls and work clothes for many years and distributed them over a wide area. The three-story building at First Avenue North and Seventh Street now occupied by the Marso & Rodenborn Manufacturing Company is the former plant of the Mulroney firm.

Tom Kelley and his wife, Mary Brady Kelley, moved into the house in the fall of 1931. Kelley was a widely-known insurance man who organized the Kelley Insurance Agency now located at 216 S. 8th St. Two of his sons, Robert and Thomas X., are presently members of the firm carrying on the business.

Following the deaths of Kelley in 1958 and Mrs. Kelley in 1959 the property was transferred to Robert and Thomas Kelley and their sister, Mrs. Charles H. McCrea of Las Vegas, Nev., the former Mary Loyola Kelley. The home has been rented for many years and currently is occupied by the Robert Tarbox family.

THE GEORGE GILLMAN HOME

The large two-story brick and cement faced residence at 400 N. 9th St. has been known as the Gillman home since it was built in 1915 by George W. Gillman, a prominent pharmacist and businessman of Fort Dodge.

Gillman lived there until his death in 1959. The house is now owned by William J. Thatcher. Two apartments in the home are currently rented out.

Henry Kehm & Sons—well-known brick masons and home builders here for many years—constructed the house for Gillman. Originally it had living room, solarium, music room, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping porch on the second floor. A large attic provided storage space.

Gillman started his drug store here in 1904 at the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Seventh Street in a new building erected by Colby Brothers, who operated a livery barn here in the earlier days. The store was in operation at this location until the spring of 1974 when it closed its doors after 70 years of continuous operation. Roy W. Gillman, son of the store’s founder, was associated with the firm for 56 years and the owner until the store closed.

The senior Gillman, who was 79 at time of his death, was born in Nowlin, S. D., and came with his family to Badger at an early age. As a boy he worked in the Campbell & Tower drug store here and later graduated in pharmacy from Highland Park University in Des Moines. After working with Campbell & Tower as a registered pharmacist he opened his own store.

Gillman was active in pharmacy circles and was a member of the State Board of Pharmacy for 18 years, serving as its chairman several times.

Gillman was also interested in the theater and was president of the Princess Theater Company which built and operated the Princess here for many years. During his years as manager, the theater offered some of the finest vaudeville available and also booked in outstanding shows with celebrated performers. The theater finally closed its doors and in 1939 the building was sold to the First National Bank. It is now the home of the bank at 18 N. 9th St.

THE VINCENT HOUSE

One of the few remaining landmarks in Fort Dodge is the historic Vincent home at 824 3rd Ave. S. The house is now more than a century old, having been built in 1871 by James Swain, a pioneer Fort Dodge resident who was in the wholesale and retail drug business.

The house was purchased in 1879 by Webb Vincent, an early-day Fort Dodge industrialist and one of the founders of the gypsum industry here in 1872. Associated with him at that time in the establishment of the Fort Dodge Plaster Mills were George S. Ringland and Stillman T. Meservey.

The Webb Vincent family moved into the spacious home Oct. 17, 1879. It had been occupied continuously by members of the family until the death in 1969 of Mrs. Anne Vincent, widow of Donald Vincent.

The home has an exterior of red brick—a “soft brick” made from red clay that was found extensively in this area. Foundation walls are of limestone set in mortar. These stones of different sizes and roughly hewn form a foundation wall about seven feet high. Exterior house walls are 30 inches thick and interior walls are 24 inches thick.

Rooms of the house are large. Ceilings on the first floor are 14 feet high, on the second floor 12 feet high and on the third floor nine feet high. The third floor included a ballroom, 20 × 50 feet in size, where many early-day parties were held.

The Vincent House was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and in 1974 was allocated $1,200 in federal funds for preservation purposes. The money will be used for restoration of the third floor ballroom in the house.

The beautiful home at the northwest corner of Third Avenue South and Ninth Street has been preserved through the years in excellent condition. It survived a battle in 1957 and 1958 with the Federal Government when it was proposed to raze the structure to make room for the nearby Federal Building and Post Office.

Mrs. Anne Vincent bequeathed the historic home to the Fort Dodge YWCA. Income from a $150,000 trust fund may be used by the YWCA to keep the home in good repair and to redecorate it. The home is now being used by the organization for many gatherings.

THE FORD HOME

Fort Dodge mayor John F. Ford, who served from 1911 to 1919, resided in this Fifth Avenue North home for many years with his wife and five children. Ford won election as mayor when the city’s form of government was changed from the ward system to the present commission system.

The first City Council under the commission form included Mayor Ford, Commissioner Frank W. Collins and Commissioner C. H. (Cad) Smith. At that time Collins was in charge of the department of accounts, finances, public properties and parks. Smith headed the department of public safety, streets and public improvements.

The two-story frame house at 1242 5th Ave. N., which the Ford family occupied was built in 1890 and acquired by the Fords in 1895. The home has changed ownership a number of times since the Fords resided there and presently is owned by Mrs. Fatima Habhab, who with her late husband, Allie, purchased the property in 1953.

Ford was prominent in Fort Dodge and Webster County affairs for many years. He was born here in 1864 and when six years old moved with his parents to a Jackson Township farm. He lived on the farm for 21 years and then moved back to Fort Dodge. During his years on the farm Ford taught school for 10 years during the winter months.

In 1893 Ford was appointed deputy county auditor under Auditor T. A. Cunningham and served in that capacity for six years, then was elected county auditor and served for another six years. Later he was interested in the R. B. Berryhill store at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Eighth Street which sold books, stationery and had a complete newsstand.

Ford was an outstanding bowler and a member of championship bowling teams of Fort Dodge with other well-known men of his time.

Mr. and Mrs. Ford were the parents of a son and four daughters. They were Howard, Mary, Charlotte, Helen and Alice.

THE ROBERTS HOME

Another of the landmark homes along Third Avenue South is the Roberts home, 919 3rd Ave. S., which housed publishers and editors of The Messenger for many years. Built by George E. Roberts in 1888, the house is a three-story frame structure with large porches that extend along the north, east and south sides.

Occupying an impressive location at the southwest corner of Third Avenue South and Tenth Street, the house has an expansive yard extending southward from the avenue for a considerable distance. Large trees also surround the home.

Beautiful oak and cherry woodwork mark the interior of the rooms on the first floor. A large open entrance hall with beamed oak ceiling is just inside the front entryway. It features oak woodwork and a large fireplace with a carved oak mantel. The open stairway to the second floor is flanked by large columns of Grecian design.

The adjoining library room also has a fireplace and is unique with its cherry woodwork and massive open bookcases. A large handcrafted wood archway over a huge window at the east separates the bookcases. Floors in the entrance hall, library, living room and dining room are of oak. There are four bedrooms and two baths on the second floor and attic space on the third floor. The house has a large basement area, including a cyclone cellar with an arched brick ceiling.

George E. Roberts was an outstanding early-day newspaperman and also served for a time as state printer for Iowa. He advanced from the publishing business here to the office of director of the United States Mint and later to high banking positions.

When Roberts left Fort Dodge in 1898 he was succeeded at The Messenger by his brother, Charles A. Roberts, who also purchased the home at 919 3rd Ave. S. Charles Roberts was head of The Messenger until his death Jan. 1, 1933.

Following the death of Mrs. Roberts in 1957, the Roberts home was inherited by Mrs. John C. Deardorf, the former Catherine Vincent. She presently occupies the stately home.

THE GRIFFITH HOME

One of the fine homes in the south part of Fort Dodge is the residence at 1234 6th Ave. S. whose history dates back to the 1870s. Familiarly known as the Griffith home, it was occupied by the Frank Griffith family for many years.

City assessor records show the original portion of the home at this location was built in 1871, but was remodeled, enlarged and modernized years later. Located on parts of two lots, the house has a 93-foot frontage on Sixth Avenue South and 106 feet on Thirteenth Street.

John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney here, was the first owner of the property before a house was erected there. He sold the lots in 1861 to a William Kellner who, in turn, disposed of the property to William C. Young. The original house is believed to have been built by Young as he retained ownership of the property until 1883.

Frank W. Griffith, an architect who later was manager of the U. S. Gypsum plant here, purchased the home in 1914. Age of the house is shown by the fact that its construction includes solid walnut studdings, walnut floor joists and walnut sheathing. Foundation walls are of limestone.

The two-story house has a shingle exterior. The first floor has living room, L-shaped dining room, playroom, kitchen, screened-in porch and large entrance hall. On the second floor are three bedrooms, bath, screened-in porch and attic space.

Griffith came to Fort Dodge in 1901 to design the Blanden gypsum mill located about a mile east of the present Celotex plant. He also supervised construction of the plant of the American Independent Gypsum Company organized in 1906.

Griffith then went to Chicago with the United States Gypsum Company and in 1908 was transferred to Fort Dodge as manager of the local mill and office. Later he was transferred to Alabaster, Mich., and then returned to Fort Dodge in 1913 as manager of the U. S. G. plant. He remained as plant manager here until 1921 when he resigned to resume architectural work. His son, Stanford W. Griffith, later joined him in the business and is presently head of the Griffith Company architectural firm here. The elder Griffith continued work as an architect until his death in 1953.

The Griffith home is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel F. Carney who reside there.

THE BUTLER HOUSE

This attractive white frame house at 924 5th Ave. N. dates its history back to 1880 and from 1901 until 1945 was known as the Paddy Butler home. During this 44-year period it was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick D. (Paddy) Butler and family.

Earlier the house was the First Presbyterian Church’s manse and was occupied by Dr. J. Milton Greene, the church pastor, from 1893 to 1899. During these years the residence was familiarly called the “Preacher Greene” house.

The two-story house has unique bow windows of a type used in early-day construction. Originally it had a parlor, two sitting rooms, bedroom, bath, kitchen and dining room on the first floor. The second floor had three large bedrooms and there also was an attic.

Albert E. Clark who acquired the lot at the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue North and Tenth Street in 1880 built the house that year. He owned the property until 1884 when it was sold to Thomas Sargent, a well-known early-day resident. Sargent kept the home until 1893 when it was sold to the Presbyterian Church for its minister, Dr. Greene.

In 1901 the church sold the house to the Butlers and it remained in the family’s possession until 1945 when sold to Effie R. Davis. J. Aaron Davis purchased the property in 1958 and resided there until 1970 when he sold it to the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. James E. Ackerman of Des Moines.

Butler, who owned the home for many years, was a farmer and livestock raiser in Webster and Humboldt counties. There were four daughters and two sons in the family—Mrs. F. E. Ludgate (Josephine) now deceased; Mrs. Mary Savage and Mrs. T. J. Tokheim (Ina) both of Fort Dodge; and Mrs. George Brennan (Esther) of Littleton, Colo.; John Butler, deceased, and Harry Butler of Fort Dodge.

Mrs. Tokheim, her husband and family resided in Lytton for many years and while there constructed a new home. She was so impressed with the bow windows in her parents’ home here that similar windows were installed in their Lytton home.

The Butler home was remodeled after its purchase by the Davis family and now includes two apartments which the Ackermans rent out.

THE J. B. BLACK HOME

A well-known Webster County farmer, who was also an early-day auto dealer in Fort Dodge, built the home at 1102 5th Ave. N. and occupied it with his family for many years.